but a clever computer-generated composite of six other members of the popular girl band AKB 48.

Her less than organic origins were exposed when fans of the band became suspicious about the appearance of its newest member, remarking that she bore a striking similarity to some of her bandmates. While it is not unusual for new faces to join AKB - the band has 48 members with older girls often being replaced by newcomers when they “graduate” onto modelling and acting - something was obviously amiss.

And there were other clues. Her birthday - February 11 - is the date of the founding in 1922 of confectioner Ezaki Glico and rearranging the letters of her name in Japanese spells out the company’s name.